A method for producing a metal powder includes maintaining molten reducing metal in a sealed reaction vessel that is free of added oxygen and water, establishing a vortex in the molten reducing metal, introducing a metal halide into the vortex so that the molten reducing metal is in a stoichiometric excess to the metal halide, thereby producing metal particles and salt, removing unreacted reducing metal, removing the salt, and recovering the metal powder. The molten reducing metal can be a Group I metal, a Group II metal, or aluminum.

A method of manufacturing an impeller for a thermal management device includes partially curing a curable liquid in a curable liquid bath to form a first stage rotor, removing the first stage rotor from the curable liquid bath, the first stage rotor having excess curable liquid on a surface thereof, rotating the first stage rotor to displace the excess curable liquid radially outward from a rotational axis to compensate for imbalances in the first stage rotor, and fully curing the first stage rotor and at least a portion of the excess curable liquid to produce a second stage rotor that is more rotationally balanced than the first stage rotor.

A method of manufacturing an impeller for a thermal management device includes partially curing a curable liquid in a curable liquid bath to form a first stage rotor, removing the first stage rotor from the curable liquid bath, the first stage rotor having excess curable liquid on a surface thereof, rotating the first stage rotor to displace the excess curable liquid radially outward from a rotational axis to compensate for imbalances in the first stage rotor, and fully curing the first stage rotor and at least a portion of the excess curable liquid to produce a second stage rotor that is more rotationally balanced than the first stage rotor.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for carrying out rapid on-site optical chemical analysis in oil feeds are described. In one aspect, a system for manufacture of a tool includes a deposition reactor configured for molecular layer deposition or atomic layer deposition of metal powder to manufacture coated particles, a fabrication unit configured for 3D printing of the tool, and a controller that controls the deposition reactor and the fabrication unit, wherein the fabrication unit and the deposition reactor are integrated for automated fabrication of the tool using the coated particles from the deposition reactor as building material for the 3D printing.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for carrying out rapid on-site optical chemical analysis in oil feeds are described. In one aspect, a system for manufacture of a tool includes a deposition reactor configured for molecular layer deposition or atomic layer deposition of metal powder to manufacture coated particles, a fabrication unit configured for 3D printing of the tool, and a controller that controls the deposition reactor and the fabrication unit, wherein the fabrication unit and the deposition reactor are integrated for automated fabrication of the tool using the coated particles from the deposition reactor as building material for the 3D printing.

A method of fabricating an impregnated fiber assembly, the method including introducing a first suspension including a first powder of solid particles into an inside volume defined by an inside face of a first fiber texture of hollow shape placed in a mold, an outer face of the first fiber texture being present facing a wall of the mold; using a centrifugal force to impregnate the first fiber texture with the first suspension by rotating the mold; after impregnating the first texture, positioning a second fiber texture on the inside face of the first fiber texture to obtain a fiber assembly; introducing a second suspension including a second powder of solid particles into the inside volume after putting the second fiber texture into position; and using a centrifugal force to impregnate the second fiber texture with the second suspension by rotating the mold to obtain an impregnated fiber assembly.

A method of fabricating an impregnated fiber assembly, the method including introducing a first suspension including a first powder of solid particles into an inside volume defined by an inside face of a first fiber texture of hollow shape placed in a mold, an outer face of the first fiber texture being present facing a wall of the mold; using a centrifugal force to impregnate the first fiber texture with the first suspension by rotating the mold; after impregnating the first texture, positioning a second fiber texture on the inside face of the first fiber texture to obtain a fiber assembly; introducing a second suspension including a second powder of solid particles into the inside volume after putting the second fiber texture into position; and using a centrifugal force to impregnate the second fiber texture with the second suspension by rotating the mold to obtain an impregnated fiber assembly.

A powder recycling system includes a supply tank, a continuous loss-in-weight module, a pneumatic module, a transfer channel, a recycle module, and a refilling tank. The supply tank accommodates recycling powder. The continuous loss-in-weight module includes a storage tank receiving the recycling powder from the supply tank and a rotary output pipe connected to the storage tank to output the recycling powder. The continuous loss-in-weight module controls the mass flow rate of the output of the recycling powder according to the weight change of the storage tank. The pneumatic module enables the recycling powder to float and move in the transfer channel. The recycle module is connected to the transfer channel to receive the recycling powder, sieves the recycling powder, provides virgin powder, and mixes the virgin powder with the recycling powder. The refilling tank is connected to the recycle module to receive the recycling powder and the virgin powder.

A powder recycling system includes a supply tank, a continuous loss-in-weight module, a pneumatic module, a transfer channel, a recycle module, and a refilling tank. The supply tank accommodates recycling powder. The continuous loss-in-weight module includes a storage tank receiving the recycling powder from the supply tank and a rotary output pipe connected to the storage tank to output the recycling powder. The continuous loss-in-weight module controls the mass flow rate of the output of the recycling powder according to the weight change of the storage tank. The pneumatic module enables the recycling powder to float and move in the transfer channel. The recycle module is connected to the transfer channel to receive the recycling powder, sieves the recycling powder, provides virgin powder, and mixes the virgin powder with the recycling powder. The refilling tank is connected to the recycle module to receive the recycling powder and the virgin powder.

A three dimensional (3D) printing system includes a print engine, a first powder handling module, a sieve, a second powder handling module, and a controller. The controller operates the print engine to fabricate 3D articles of manufacture. The controller operates the first powder handling module to transfer excess powder from the print engine to the first powder handling module and to receive new powder. The first powder handling module dispenses powder to the sieve. The controller operates the second handling module to transfer powder from the sieve to the second powder handling module. The second powder handling module provides powder to the print engine.